Fluorescent lamps are very energy efficient, which is very good for the environment. However, fluorescents do contain small quantities of mercury, and mercury poses a concern for potential environmental contamination. To ensure that mercury is not released to the environment, state and federal waste regulations require proper handling and disposal or recycling of fluorescent lamps. By far, the best option is to recycle them.
Is your facility recycling its fluorescent lamps? If so, we’d like to hear about it!
The Virginia DEQ’s Office of Pollution Prevention has issued a challenge to commercial property managers to recycle their lamps. However, this challenge is open to all Virginia facilities. The challenge form is short and simple. It just asks you to estimate the number of lamps that you recycle each year. If you are interested in participating, complete the form and email it to keith.boisvert@deq.virginia.gov (preferred) or mail it to Office of Pollution Prevention, Virginia DEQ, PO Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218.
If your company is not currently recycling lamps, please consider starting a recycling program. There are many vendors and environmental contractors that can assist you. Also, this website contains a great deal of helpful information on lamp recycling and a list of recycling vendors.
Facilities already part of the Challenge:
- 99th Regional Readiness Command, US Army Reserve, Coraopolis, PA
- Albemarle County Schools
- Anderson and Associates, Inc., Blacksburg
- BAE Systems, Manassas
- Blacksburg Christian Fellowship
- Blacksburg Country Club
- Capital One West Creek Campus
- Carper Insurance Associates, Blacksburg
- Champs Sports Bar and Café, Blacksburg
- Citto
- CMG Leasing Inc., Blacksburg
- Colley Architects, P.C., Blacksburg
- Covanta Energy Alexandria
- Covanta Energy Fairfax
- Danville Post Office and Courthouse
- Defense Logistics Agency, Richmond
- Downtown Merchants of Blacksburg
- Draper Arden Associates, Blacksburg
- Exper-T's
- Fort A.P. Hill
- Fringe Benefit, Blacksburg
- Fun n' Games. Game & Hobby Shoppe, Blacksburg
- Gayton Animal Hospital, Richmond
- Gillie's Restaurant, Blacksburg
- Gwaltney of Smithfield, Ltd.
- Harrisonburg Federal Courthouse
- Homebody, Blacksburg
- Hopewell Cogeneration Facility
- Hyosung America Inc. Scottsville Plant
- International Paper – Franklin Mill
- Kent Square, Blacksburg
- Kyanite Mining Corporation, Dillwyn
- Leesburg Water Pollution Control Facility
- Lewis Powell Courthouse and US Courthouse Annex, Richmond
- Luna Innovations, Blacksburg
- Luna NanoWorks
- Lunenburg Correctional Center
- Lynchburg Federal Courthouse
- Mish Mish, Inc., Blacksburg
- National Bank of Blacksburg
- New Tech Fitness, Blacksburg
- Powell Courthouse & US Courthouse Annex, Richmond
- Richmond Federal Office Building
- Robinson-Merhige US Courthouse, Richmond
- Roy W. Dodson
- Sharky's Wing and Rib Joint, Blacksburg
- Simon & Associates, Inc.
- Smithfield Foods – Portsmouth Division
- Smithfield Packing Company (South)
- Town Center of Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach
- Town of Blacksburg
- US Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Norfolk
- U.S. Army Transportation Center – Fort Eustis
- VPT, Inc., Blacksburg
- Washington and Lee University, Lexington
- YMCA - Virginia Tech, Blacksburg